Leader receives poison-pen letters

FLINTSHIRE County Council leader Alex Aldridge has revealed he received vicious phone calls and poison-pen letters during the council's long-running dispute with its former internal auditor, Andy Sutton.

FLINTSHIRE County Council leader Alex Aldridge has revealed he received vicious phone calls and poison-pen letters during the council's long-running dispute with its former internal auditor, Andy Sutton.

'Even my family have been subjected to snide comments,' he said.

But while he found the personal abuse unsavoury, he says his main concern is that the Sutton case is eclipsing the rest of the work carried out by the authority.

'That is the galling thing about the whole affair,' he said.

'I want to go on record and say I really feel for Mr Sutton and his family. I understand the pain and anguish they have been through. I have no animosity towards him or his family.'

Councillor Aldridge is adamant that the chain of events which ended with Mr Sutton's victory in his constructive dismissal and victimisation claim against the council could not happen again.

He underlines the fact that new procedures are now in place, which he is conf ident would avoid similar situations cropping up in the future.

'I have said before mistakes were made,' he said.

'Looking back, the documents he wanted to see, but which he was initially denied access to, were innocuous.

'However, new procedures are now in place for investigative work. I only wish that individuals had acted more professionally to one another.'

Mr Sutton has been described as a whistle blower, but Cllr Aldridge says it was not the former council auditor who originally drew attention to a number of key issues that formed a vital part of the tribunal evidence - including the authority's controversial purchase of a &#xA3;600,000 farm in Cheshire.

'He was not the whistle blower, it was others who raised the matters initially,' said the council leader.

'Whistle blowing is a key instrument in any facet of life. But it can be destructive as well as constructive.

'I'm speaking from experience. Somebody made a malicious accusation against me personally.

'I reported the matter to the police and have submitted a detailed file to them, but have had to live with the slur for six months.'

Cllr Aldridge is concerned that the Sutton case is diverting the public's attention away from how the Labour-controlled authority is performing in the delivery of its services.

'When I came in as leader, we were staring at a def icit of almost &#xA3;4 million,' he said.

'We turned it round, and now have about &#xA3;4.5 million in the coffers.

'The list of what we have achieved so far is endless. We have provided a CCTV nerve centre at county hall, put Clwyd Theatr Cymru on a sound financial footing, put a lot of investment into old people's homes, built a new school in Greenf ield and put a mobile off ice on the road.

'These are just a few examples of our successes. I could go on.'

But however much the council had tried to turn the spotlight on its record of achievement, it's the authority's former internal auditor who has been making the headlines.

'I have read letters backing Mr Sutton in the Press and having a go at Flintshire,' said Cllr Aldridge.

'I only wish the people who ask for their names not to be published would just pick up the phone and ring me personally. I am quite willing to speak to them and discuss the issues and answer their criticisms.

'But I haven't received a single call from anyone willing to give their name - the only reactions I've had are anonymous, abusive phone calls and poison-pen letters.'

He added: 'Personally, I know of five councillors who are out to destroy me, and I hold them in the greatest contempt. They have made this issue personal, but I will not be reduced to their level.'

Despite the f lak, Cllr Aldridge has no intention of walking away from the hot seat.

'I'm no quitter,' the council leader said bluntly.

'I have never reached a point where I have thought 'shall I carry on? I really think the time has come to put the tribunal and the issues surrounding it behind us and move on.

'What we want to do is build on our successes and face the exciting challenges ahead.'